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Analyzing the Performance of Red Bull’s Drivers: Lawson vs. Tsunoda

As previously discussed, the RB21 has untapped performance potential, although it appears to be most effective within a specific, somewhat limited range.

When assessing the drivers in Red Bull’s alternating second seat, it’s clear that Liam Lawson has faced challenges in harnessing this performance, whereas Yuki Tsunoda has managed to leverage it more effectively, even in the absence of pre-season testing.

Since moving to Racing Bulls, Lawson has begun to find his stride, though he remains in a supporting role to Isack Hadjar, who is adjusting to the VCARB 02. Penalties have largely hindered Lawson’s efforts, and he has struggled to maintain the race pace that Hadjar has demonstrated.

Hadjar’s performance has been noticeably stronger than Lawson’s. For instance, during the Saudi Arabian GP, Hadjar swiftly overtook Fernando Alonso, which allowed him to extend the longevity of his hard tires. In contrast, Lawson, on medium tires, took an additional ten laps to overtake Alonso, indicating a difficulty in maximizing tire performance.

The fact that only 1.4 seconds separated them at the finish line can mainly be attributed to Carlos Sainz’s impact on Hadjar rather than Lawson’s tire performance. Hadjar had faster laps early in Lawson’s stint before eventually being overtaken by Lewis Hamilton.

However, there are signs of improvement; Lawson is now closer in performance to Hadjar compared to the beginning of his stint. Hadjar has noted that he’s pushing himself more with each race. If Lawson can eliminate his tendency to incur in-race time penalties, he could be on the brink of achieving points this season.

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls VCARB 02 leads Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing RB21

Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli – Getty Images

There is a hope that Lawson can excel, showcasing the talent he displayed with AlphaTauri in 2023. This season presents a vital opportunity for him to demonstrate his long-term viability in Formula 1. While his performances so far have been somewhat underwhelming, stabilizing his results in the first half of the season would significantly bolster his prospects.

Self-reflection might be necessary for Lawson to move forward. He claims that his confidence remains intact following his Red Bull demotion, but it’s likely that this setback affected him. Such challenges are not unique; all drivers must overcome similar hurdles. Drawing inspiration from Chumbawamba’s anthem Tubthumping, a career isn’t solely defined by setbacks but by how quickly one rebounds from them.

The Racing Bulls VCARB 02 may not have the raw performance to contend with the top four teams, but it is poised for a competitive battle with Williams for fifth place in the championship standings. Lawson should focus on aiming for ninth and tenth positions rather than engaging in intense battles with teams like Aston Martin and Sauber.

On the other hand, Tsunoda is demonstrating that he might have been the stronger choice for Red Bull initially. The challenge for him now lies in unlocking the full potential of the Red Bull during qualifying. The car has the capability to secure pole positions and possibly victory if pushed to its limits, but Tsunoda will require more time to reach that level. Patience and perseverance are essential.

Currently, he seems capable of consistently achieving the lap times necessary to make it into Q3, but there’s potential for even more performance. As Gianluca d’Alessandro noted in his analysis of Tsunoda’s early races, he has gained considerable insights about the car, but there is still much to learn.

In this article

Jake Boxall-Legge

Formula 1

Yuki Tsunoda

Liam Lawson

Red Bull Racing

RB

Source
www.autosport.com